Salvation Army

The answering service includes instructions for referrals to grievance counselors and services to find friends and family members. The service also includes prayer request lines and information for church services. Donations for the relief fund can be made payable to the Salvation Army. For more information call 1-800-Sal-Army.

Raymond Thibeault, the mid-Michigan Salvation Army disaster services coordinator, said the response has been overwhelming. Thibeault said the organization aims to address the need for more phone lines to better assist those who are wishing to donate money and blood.

American Red Cross

Monetary donations made to the Red Cross Relief Fund replenish relief workers in Washington, New York and Pennsylvania with food and liquids. Donations also assist the Air Team, which is made up of certified psychologists and social workers who respond to plane crashes and disasters. Thibeault said donations of blood are not needed now but will be needed for the next month. For more information about donating, call 1-800-Help-Now, where you can connect to your local chapter.

MSU Counseling Center

The Counseling Center will provide on-site support for students at the center, 207 Student Services. The staff is available to meet with individuals or groups of students who may need support. For more information, call (517)355-8270.

Campus Blood Drives

The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive on campus from noon-5:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 in Room D4 Fee Hall.

U.S. Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service has remained open.

“Our whole thought is that we’re the only lines of communication that are fully operational right now,” said Lori Demick, spokeswoman for the Lansing Post Office, 4800 Collins Road in Lansing. “So we definitely didn’t want to shut the post office down.”

Mail directed toward affected areas in New York may not reach its destination for at least three days, but could take longer than a week, Demick said.

Leslie Escobar and Kristina Hughes